In New Jersey, a person with a felony conviction can vote as long as they are not currently serving a sentence of incarceration for an indictable offense. Parole, probation, unpaid fines, restitution, and outstanding court costs do not block you. If you are living in the community, you are eligible to register and cast a ballot in every local, state, and federal election.
Who Is Eligible and Who Is Not
New Jersey’s eligibility rule draws one line. If you are serving a sentence of incarceration for an indictable offense, you cannot vote. Everyone else with a criminal record can.1Justia. New Jersey Code 19-4-1 – Qualifications; Persons Not Having Right of Suffrage; Right to Register That covers people on parole, people on probation, and people on any other form of supervised release. You do not need to finish your sentence, complete community service, or pay anything off first.
The state changed its law in December 2019 to produce this bright-line rule. Before then, parole and probation also disqualified you. Assembly Bill 5823 narrowed the disqualification to active incarceration alone, so there is no waiting period and no restoration petition to file.2New Jersey Legislature. P.L. 2019, c.270 – A5823 Once you are out, you can register.
The Halfway House Exception
One situation does not fit the simple “if you’re out, you can vote” summary. New Jersey treats people in halfway houses and residential community release programs as still incarcerated for certain legal purposes.3New Jersey Legislature. Chapter 25 – Residential Community Release Programs If you are living in a halfway house as part of your sentence rather than as a condition of parole, you may still count as serving a sentence of incarceration, and that would make you ineligible. The distinction isn’t always obvious from the inside. Call your County Commissioner of Registration and confirm before you register. The reason to be careful is in the penalties section below.
How to Register After Release
To register in New Jersey, you must be a United States citizen, at least 18 by election day, and a resident of your county for at least 30 days before the election.4New Jersey Department of State. Register to Vote You will also need to supply a New Jersey driver’s license number or a non-driver ID number from the Motor Vehicle Commission.
If you have neither, use the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you have none of those numbers, you can note that on the form and still submit it.5New Jersey Department of State. Voter Registration FAQ Many people leaving incarceration don’t have a current state ID, so a trip to the MVC may come first. A non-driver ID card costs $24, or $6 if you have a documented disability.6New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Non-Driver Identification Card
You can register three ways:
- Online through the New Jersey Division of Elections, using an on-screen signature or an uploaded image of your signature.7New Jersey Division of Elections. Voter Registration
- By mail, sending a paper application to the County Commissioner of Registration or Superintendent of Elections in your county.
- In person, using paper forms available at MVC offices, county election offices, and many government agencies.
The deadline is 21 days before any election. Miss it, and your registration is processed for the next one.
If You Don’t Have a Fixed Address
Lacking stable housing does not disqualify you. For your residential address you can describe where you sleep, such as a park name or a street intersection. For a mailing address, you can use a shelter, a religious center, general delivery at a local post office, or a friend or family member’s address.8Vote.gov. Voting While Unhoused Keep that mailing address current with the county so your voting materials reach you.
Casting Your Ballot
Once registered, you have three ways to vote. You can go to your assigned polling place on election day. You can vote in person during the early voting window the state opens before each primary and general election; counties set up between 3 and 10 locations depending on size, separate from election day polling places.9New Jersey Division of Elections. In-Person Early Voting Or you can vote by mail. Any registered voter can request a mail-in ballot without giving a reason.10New Jersey Division of Elections. Vote-By-Mail Submit the application at least seven days before the election, or pick a ballot up in person from your county clerk’s office by 3 p.m. the day before election day. Return it by mail postmarked by 8 p.m. on election day, drop it in a secure ballot box by that same deadline, or hand it to your county Board of Elections. No witness or notary is needed.
You can confirm your registration went through using the New Jersey Voter Information Portal. Enter your name and date of birth to pull up your record.11State of New Jersey. New Jersey Voter Information Portal If nothing shows up, call your County Commissioner of Registration. If you move after registering, update your address through the same portal or by submitting a new form; your polling place and your mail-in ballot both follow the address on file.
If you reach the polls on election day and your name isn’t on the list, do not leave. Ask for a provisional ballot. Poll workers must offer one. You sign a statement affirming you’re registered and eligible, and the county board of elections reviews it; if your eligibility checks out, the ballot is counted.12Justia. New Jersey Code 19-53C-1 – Preparation and Counting of Provisional Ballots
Penalties for Voting While Ineligible
Voting when you are not entitled to is a third-degree crime in New Jersey.13Justia. New Jersey Code 19-34-11 – Fraudulent Voting Registering in a district where you aren’t eligible, or registering under a false name, is also a third-degree crime.14Justia. New Jersey Code 19-34-1 – Registration Offenses Third-degree crimes in New Jersey carry a potential prison sentence of three to five years. If you have any doubt about your status, especially if you’re in a halfway house or other transitional facility, confirm with your county election office before you fill anything out. An honest mistake can become a new conviction.
What Changes in 2027
Senate Bill 1636, signed in late 2025, takes effect January 1, 2027. It requires the Department of Corrections to work with the Secretary of State and the Motor Vehicle Commission so that people about to leave incarceration can be offered voter registration when they apply for a non-driver ID and provide the address where they’ll live.15New Jersey Legislature. Bill S1636 Registration takes effect only after release. The law does not change who is eligible. Until then, register on your own after release through one of the methods above.